SWFL recovers after severe storms tear through region

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Flooded roads, downed trees and damaged buildings were evident throughout Southwest Florida after strong storms tore through the region late Friday morning.

The roof of a condo on Feather Sound Drive in Fort Myers was partially blown off by a tornado, the National Weather Service said. The NWS did not immediately say how strong the tornado was.

Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties were among a number of counties that were under multiple warnings for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

No injuries were immediately reported.

Southwest Florida remained under a tornado watch until 5 p.m. Friday.

The storms were the region’s second severe weather incident in a week. An EF2 tornado tore through southwest Cape Coral on Saturday, leaving behind hundreds of damaged or destroyed homes and millions in damages.

For tornado victim Kim Ferario, it was deja vu.

“What are you gonna do? It’s nature,” she said. “It’s Mother Nature. You can’t fight her. She’s gonna win every time.”

Rick Koch heard then high winds, followed by a big explosion and then power to his home was lost – just like last Saturday.

“All over again, I mean, as if we didn’t go through enough,” he said. “This is crazy.’

Damage from Friday’s storm include:

Florida Power and Light reported 5,500 customers without power across the region.
Lee County Electric Cooperative reported 650 customers without power.
A vehicle was stuck in what appears to be sinkhole inside an apartment parking lot near Winkler Avenue and Cypress Lake Drive in Fort Myers.
The front doors of the Spada Salon and Day Spa on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers blew off:

“We just ducked down, and the glass shattered,” owner Judy Williams said. “It was, it was very scary. You just don’t know if it’s gonna continue to come in. If it’s gonna take up everything and you know, take you with it.”

A trampoline was blown onto a home on 28th Street SW in Lehigh Acres.
Power lines were down across the area, including on Pine Avenue in Bonita Springs.
Traffic lights were out on Airport Road North and Vanderbilt Beach Road in Collier County. Flooding was also reported in the area.
Tree branches fell on vehicles throughout the area.
Roads were flooded in the area of Beach Parkway and SW 20th Place in Cape Coral, the same area that was impacted by an EF2 tornado on Saturday.

A video posted by Heather (@puncrokgirl) on Jan 15, 2016 at 8:15am PST

About five inches of rain fell in Boca Grande, along with about 2.5 inches in Cape Coral, WINK News Chief Meteorologist Jim Farrell said.

Sanibel officials reported 4.17 inches of rainfall within the past 24 hours, including 3.5 inches since 8 a.m. Multiple roads were flooded, including West Gulf Drive, Sanibel Boulevard and Periwinkle Way.

The storms also knocked out power to Pure Audio on Shirley Street in Naples.

“It’s hurting business because there’s no customers,” owner Rebecca Gabay said. “No one can get down the street. How are we supposed to get anyone through the front door?”

Larry Kalmis, who was visiting the Naples Pier from New Jersey, was planning to have more outdoor adventures on Friday.

“I packed two bathing suits, three pairs of shorts and I’m not getting to use any of them, but that’s the way things happen,” he said.

A photo posted by Cheryldellaccio (@cheryldellaccio) on Jan 15, 2016 at 9:31am PST

Local schools took precautions as the storms made their way through the area:

Lee County schools moved students in portable classrooms inside, then canceled after school activities.
Collier County schools restricted student movement to inside school buildings.
Florida SouthWestern State College canceled evening classes on all its campuses.
Florida Gulf Coast University temporarily stopped its shuttle service.